Area educators are finalists for Tennessee's 2012-13 Principal of the Year, Supervisor of the Year

By Ben Benton

Friday, January 1, 1904

photo Carol Goss is principal of Tyner Academy.

AREA REGINAL FINALISTSPrincipal of the YearSoutheast: Carol Goss, Tyner Academy, Hamilton County SchoolsSouth Central: Sandy Schultz, Broadview Elementary School, Franklin County SchoolsSupervisor of the YearSoutheast: Jill Swafford, Polk County SchoolsUpper Cumberland: Bobby Cox, Warren County SchoolsSource: Tennessee Department of Education

Four area schools officials have been named regional finalists for Tennessee's 2012-13 Principal of the Year and Supervisor of the Year, according to state Department of Education officials.

Tyner Academy Principal Carol Goss in Hamilton County is the Southeast region finalist for her post's annual honor, and Broadview Elementary School Principal Sandy Schultz in Franklin County is the finalist for the South Central region.

Hamilton County director of high schools Marvin Lott said Goss is "very deserving of that honor."

"She is one of the well-thought-of principals in the district," Lott said. "She looks out for the interests of the district. She's a team player."

Franklin County officials say the news is exciting and well deserved.

"We are so thrilled that Sandy is Principal of the Year for the South Central districts," Franklin County Director of Schools Rebecca Sharber said Friday.

"She has worked really hard. She has some phenomenal gains in test scores, and she has worked very diligently with all the administrators from all over the region," Sharber said.

In the Supervisor of the Year category, Polk County's Jill Swafford was named the Southeast region finalist, according to state officials.

Swafford, Polk County schools federal projects and elementary supervisor, "always has the best for students at heart," said school system data analyst Joel Cox.

"Jill's one of the most hard-working people I know," he said. "One of her [well-known] quotes is, 'Whatever's best for kids.' We hear that so much."

Another area regional finalist, this one in the Upper Cumberland region, is Warren County Director of Schools Bobby Cox, according to state officials.

In a website greeting to students and educators for this fall, the Warren County director said his goal "is to empower our teachers to help more students learn at higher levels."

"Principals and supervisors work to create better environments for teaching and learning in our schools," Education Commissioner Kevin Huffman said in a prepared release. "This year's nominees share the department's commitment to raising standards for students and have lived out that goal with their innovative programs and strong visions."